I stood in front of Alpha Kael's door, my breath steady but my pulse quickening. My fingers curled tightly around the brass knocker, and I gave the door a firm rap, each knock echoing through the silence of the hallway. A small smile tugged at my lips as I waited, the anticipation building like a sweet poison in my veins.Kael, I know you're in there.I didn’t have to be here, not like this. But after everything—after all the times he rejected me, chose Arianna, I could feel something inside me shift. He needed to understand. He needed to know who really held the power in this pack. Who he had overlooked.I knocked again, harder this time. The door was unyielding, but I was used to obstacles. I didn’t back down from them. Not anymore.For a brief moment, I wondered what was taking him so long. Was he in there drinking? Getting lost in his own frustration? Maybe I would find him exactly how I imagined—disheveled, disoriented, and, finally, vulnerable.Just when I thought I might break
Kael’s POVThe door slammed shut behind her with a finality that echoed through the room. I didn’t move, didn’t breathe. My mind was still reeling, struggling to process what had just happened—what she had just said. I could still feel her fingers on my chest, her breath in my ear, and worse, the taste of her lips on mine.What the hell was wrong with me?She’d come in like a storm, twisting everything in her wake, pushing me to the brink. I should’ve pushed her away. I should’ve thrown her out and told her to get lost. But instead, I stood there, letting her take the whiskey from my hands, letting her manipulate me like I was some helpless fool.But the worst part? The worst part was that I wanted her.She had said everything she knew would hurt the most—every word calculated to break me, to twist the knife deeper. And damn it, it worked. Arianna kissing Dorian? The thought alone made my stomach churn. I had seen the way she looked at him, the way their gazes lingered longer than the
Arianna's POV“Stop talking, please!” The words were choked, bitter, and barely a whisper, but they held the weight of every tear I had been holding in for hours. My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palm as I stood frozen at the doorpost, my heart hammering in my chest. The air was thick with the stench of betrayal, and I could taste it on the back of my throat. I wanted to scream, to throw something, anything at him, but how could I when I saw how broken Kael looked? His jaw clenched in fury, his face twisted in ways I had never seen before, and yet, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even speak.His eyes were cold—dead—when they met mine. They had always been so warm, so full of fire.“You betrayed me, Arianna,” he muttered, voice low but dripping with venom. “I would’ve let them sacrifice you. You’re just like every other woman—entitled, selfish, always seeking the next thing without understanding the consequences.” His voice broke, and I saw the anger twist into something
Alexander's POVI stood there, watching as my sister crawled on the cold, unforgiving floor, begging for attention like some discarded thing. Every instinct I had screamed to protect her, to shield her from the pain that Alpha Kael had so cruelly caused. My heart pounded with a fury that made my hands shake, and the rage coursing through me was like fire, hot and consuming."Arianna, get the fuck up from the floor!" I barked, my voice harsh, more from anger than anything else. I couldn’t stand it. I grabbed her arms, yanking her to her feet, dragging her along as her small frame felt too fragile under my touch. I could feel the tremor in her body, the weight of her sorrow sinking deep into my own chest.Each step I took, I could feel my blood boiling. Kael had humiliated her in front of everyone, and I wanted nothing more than to knock the smug look off his face. But I knew I had no right to do that—not yet. My anger made everything else blur around me, and all I wanted to do was make
Elaine povIt was the Royal Night, the one event everyone had been eagerly awaiting. The chandelier overhead cast a soft golden glow, filling the grand ballroom with warmth and elegance. The tall marble columns and intricate tapestries lining the walls seemed to blend with the murmurs of laughter and clinking glasses. Tonight was special. Not just because of the regal atmosphere, but because tonight, everyone wore a mask. A symbol of secrecy, mystery, and maybe even a little bit of magic.I adjusted the mask on my face, the dark feathers brushing against my cheek as I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the massive mirror beside me. My dress shimmered in the light, a deep shade of midnight blue that seemed to shift as I moved. It was a fitted bodice that flared out at the waist, layers of fabric that rippled like water when I walked. The gold accents along the neckline and cuffs gleamed in the soft light, each piece sewn with the precision of a royal tailor. The dress made me feel li
Kael’s POVThe flicker of candlelight danced across the grand hall, casting long shadows against the stone walls, and the air hummed with the soft sound of clinking glasses and whispered gossip. The ballroom was in full swing, a swirl of elegance and mystery, yet my thoughts were far from the opulent revelry surrounding me.I stepped into the hall with the same confidences that I always did—untouchable, an enigma wrapped in a suit as dark as the storm I carried inside. My eyes quickly found her. She was there, across the room, her figure a soft silhouette in a sea of strangers.Her gaze was intent, searching, moving with purpose even as the crowd tried to distract her. I’d known the moment I saw her that she wasn’t here to enjoy the music or the wine. No, she had her own agenda. But whatever it was, I knew I wasn’t going to stand in her way. She was searching for something—someone—but I couldn’t tell if it was for me or against me. And frankly, I didn’t care. At least not right now.W
Arianna's POVI didn’t expect him to follow me.The ballroom had been alive with chatter, a blur of elegance, but none of it had mattered. All I could think about was him—Kael. The man whose name burned like a secret on the tip of my tongue. I hadn’t intended to reveal myself, not like this. But here I was, slipping away into the shadows of the night, my heart beating in erratic sync with the rush of cold air.I thought I’d escape. Just leave the mask behind, disappear into the garden, and perhaps never return. But the moment he stepped into the garden, I knew—knew—that there was no running from him. Not anymore.My breath came in shallow gasps, the tension between us thick, palpable, as the moments stretched out in silence. I could hear my heart in my ears, feel the blood rushing through me, pounding against my chest, each beat louder than the last.The wind swept through the trees, carrying with it a quiet rustle, but it felt as though the world had stopped.I didn’t know what I exp
Arianna's POV I woke up to the scent of freshly baked cupcakes wafting through the air. I snapped my eyes open and flexed my arms, feeling a mix of excitement and dread. Today was my 17th birthday.I ran a hand through my hair as I sluggishly rose to my feet and dragged my legs towards the bathroom for a quick shower. As I got dressed, my mind wandered back to the conversation I had with my father five years ago, He had taken me to the old oak tree in the woods, his eyes serious and somber."Arianna, you are growing up, and it is high time you knew the truth about your fate," he had said, his voice low and gravelly. "When you turn 18, you will be required to fulfill an ancient prophecy. You will be the key to unlocking the werewolf king's true power."I remembered feeling like I had been punched in the gut. A sacrifice? Me? I had found it extremely hard to believe that my life would end when I turned 18th. From that day on, I slowly reminded myself each day that my days had been num
Arianna's POVI didn’t expect him to follow me.The ballroom had been alive with chatter, a blur of elegance, but none of it had mattered. All I could think about was him—Kael. The man whose name burned like a secret on the tip of my tongue. I hadn’t intended to reveal myself, not like this. But here I was, slipping away into the shadows of the night, my heart beating in erratic sync with the rush of cold air.I thought I’d escape. Just leave the mask behind, disappear into the garden, and perhaps never return. But the moment he stepped into the garden, I knew—knew—that there was no running from him. Not anymore.My breath came in shallow gasps, the tension between us thick, palpable, as the moments stretched out in silence. I could hear my heart in my ears, feel the blood rushing through me, pounding against my chest, each beat louder than the last.The wind swept through the trees, carrying with it a quiet rustle, but it felt as though the world had stopped.I didn’t know what I exp
Kael’s POVThe flicker of candlelight danced across the grand hall, casting long shadows against the stone walls, and the air hummed with the soft sound of clinking glasses and whispered gossip. The ballroom was in full swing, a swirl of elegance and mystery, yet my thoughts were far from the opulent revelry surrounding me.I stepped into the hall with the same confidences that I always did—untouchable, an enigma wrapped in a suit as dark as the storm I carried inside. My eyes quickly found her. She was there, across the room, her figure a soft silhouette in a sea of strangers.Her gaze was intent, searching, moving with purpose even as the crowd tried to distract her. I’d known the moment I saw her that she wasn’t here to enjoy the music or the wine. No, she had her own agenda. But whatever it was, I knew I wasn’t going to stand in her way. She was searching for something—someone—but I couldn’t tell if it was for me or against me. And frankly, I didn’t care. At least not right now.W
Elaine povIt was the Royal Night, the one event everyone had been eagerly awaiting. The chandelier overhead cast a soft golden glow, filling the grand ballroom with warmth and elegance. The tall marble columns and intricate tapestries lining the walls seemed to blend with the murmurs of laughter and clinking glasses. Tonight was special. Not just because of the regal atmosphere, but because tonight, everyone wore a mask. A symbol of secrecy, mystery, and maybe even a little bit of magic.I adjusted the mask on my face, the dark feathers brushing against my cheek as I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the massive mirror beside me. My dress shimmered in the light, a deep shade of midnight blue that seemed to shift as I moved. It was a fitted bodice that flared out at the waist, layers of fabric that rippled like water when I walked. The gold accents along the neckline and cuffs gleamed in the soft light, each piece sewn with the precision of a royal tailor. The dress made me feel li
Alexander's POVI stood there, watching as my sister crawled on the cold, unforgiving floor, begging for attention like some discarded thing. Every instinct I had screamed to protect her, to shield her from the pain that Alpha Kael had so cruelly caused. My heart pounded with a fury that made my hands shake, and the rage coursing through me was like fire, hot and consuming."Arianna, get the fuck up from the floor!" I barked, my voice harsh, more from anger than anything else. I couldn’t stand it. I grabbed her arms, yanking her to her feet, dragging her along as her small frame felt too fragile under my touch. I could feel the tremor in her body, the weight of her sorrow sinking deep into my own chest.Each step I took, I could feel my blood boiling. Kael had humiliated her in front of everyone, and I wanted nothing more than to knock the smug look off his face. But I knew I had no right to do that—not yet. My anger made everything else blur around me, and all I wanted to do was make
Arianna's POV“Stop talking, please!” The words were choked, bitter, and barely a whisper, but they held the weight of every tear I had been holding in for hours. My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palm as I stood frozen at the doorpost, my heart hammering in my chest. The air was thick with the stench of betrayal, and I could taste it on the back of my throat. I wanted to scream, to throw something, anything at him, but how could I when I saw how broken Kael looked? His jaw clenched in fury, his face twisted in ways I had never seen before, and yet, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even speak.His eyes were cold—dead—when they met mine. They had always been so warm, so full of fire.“You betrayed me, Arianna,” he muttered, voice low but dripping with venom. “I would’ve let them sacrifice you. You’re just like every other woman—entitled, selfish, always seeking the next thing without understanding the consequences.” His voice broke, and I saw the anger twist into something
Kael’s POVThe door slammed shut behind her with a finality that echoed through the room. I didn’t move, didn’t breathe. My mind was still reeling, struggling to process what had just happened—what she had just said. I could still feel her fingers on my chest, her breath in my ear, and worse, the taste of her lips on mine.What the hell was wrong with me?She’d come in like a storm, twisting everything in her wake, pushing me to the brink. I should’ve pushed her away. I should’ve thrown her out and told her to get lost. But instead, I stood there, letting her take the whiskey from my hands, letting her manipulate me like I was some helpless fool.But the worst part? The worst part was that I wanted her.She had said everything she knew would hurt the most—every word calculated to break me, to twist the knife deeper. And damn it, it worked. Arianna kissing Dorian? The thought alone made my stomach churn. I had seen the way she looked at him, the way their gazes lingered longer than the
I stood in front of Alpha Kael's door, my breath steady but my pulse quickening. My fingers curled tightly around the brass knocker, and I gave the door a firm rap, each knock echoing through the silence of the hallway. A small smile tugged at my lips as I waited, the anticipation building like a sweet poison in my veins.Kael, I know you're in there.I didn’t have to be here, not like this. But after everything—after all the times he rejected me, chose Arianna, I could feel something inside me shift. He needed to understand. He needed to know who really held the power in this pack. Who he had overlooked.I knocked again, harder this time. The door was unyielding, but I was used to obstacles. I didn’t back down from them. Not anymore.For a brief moment, I wondered what was taking him so long. Was he in there drinking? Getting lost in his own frustration? Maybe I would find him exactly how I imagined—disheveled, disoriented, and, finally, vulnerable.Just when I thought I might break
Arianna's POV The coldness of the floor beneath me seeped through the thin fabric of my clothes, but I didn’t care. It was the only thing that kept me grounded. I curled tighter, my arms wrapped around my knees as I sobbed, the tears flowing freely down my face like an endless river. I wanted to scream, to yell at the world for being so unfair. But no sound escaped my lips. Instead, I let the heavy silence surround me, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside. The ritual had been everything. Everything I had been waiting for, everything I had worked for. And now... now it was gone. It was as if someone had stolen the very ground I stood on, and I was left with nothing but this aching emptiness. Alpha Kael had canceled the ritual, and for what? To keep his precious little secret intact, to keep his own hidden fears and insecurities safe. But that wasn’t the worst part. No, the worst part was the lie. The lie someone had spread about me being sick—sick enough to not be able to com
Kael’s POVI paced back and forth in my room, the silence of the space doing nothing to quell the storm building inside me. My hands were trembling, my chest tight with the weight of what had happened, what was still to come. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting long, cold shadows across the floor, but it didn’t help. Nothing helped. Not the quiet of the night, not the pulse of the ritual still lingering in the air. Not the bitter taste of betrayal that still clung to my mouth.I had never felt like this before—this out-of-control surge of emotion. It was a relentless current pulling me under.I stopped pacing and ran my hands through my hair, gripping the strands in frustration. What the hell was I supposed to do now? I had defied my pack, my father, the elders—everything I had ever been taught, everything I had ever believed. And for what? Arianna. But was it enough?My eyes flickered to the door, and without thinking, I moved toward it. I needed to lock it. To ensure